Fruits of the 2nd China-Europe High Level Political Parties Forum

Brussels, November 9 – The second meeting of the Second China-Europe High Level Political Parties Forum jointly organized by party groups of the European Parliament, including the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL, was held in Brussels from the 7th to the 9th of November.

Upon conclusion of the meeting, Li Jinjun, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, received a press interview and briefed on the forum and its outcomes. 　

Li Jinjun said that against the backdrop of complex international situation, accelerated globalization and deepening China-Europe relations, China and Europe, more than ever, need each other for interdependence and mutual learning. The scope of cooperation between the two sides is increasingly expanded with wider range of areas open for policy coordination. China-Europe relations are bearing greater global significance. Hence, the China-Europe Political Parties Forum, a demonstration of the two sides' strong wish and active motives of working together for better relations.

Li Jinjun said that the theme of this forum is China's 12th Five-Year Plan and Europe's 2020 Strategy — New Ideas and Measures of China-Europe Cooperation, an extension of the theme of the first session held in Beijing and Tianjin in May this year. Building on the achievements of the first session, this second session of the forum was again devoted to exploring new ideas, measures, and ways of China-Europe cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, development of society and global governance and proceeding from the similarities in development concepts and goals of China's 12th Five-Year Plan and Europe's 2020 strategy, and further progress have been achieved through deliberations, Li said. 　

Li Jinjun said that the Chinese and European sides both highly value this forum. During the forum, political party leaders, politicians and scholars had a frank exchange of ideas and reached extensive consensus on strategic, directional and overall importance of issues such as how the two sides should look at each other, where to set the China-Europe relations, and how to push forward the bilateral relations.

It is agreed that under the current circumstances, China-Europe relations face important opportunities, and the sound and in-depth development of China-EU relations not only benefits the two sides, but also bears significantly to the stability and sustained development of the world. The two sides should correctly view their differences, properly handle disputes, and uphold the principle of equality and mutual trust and the belief of mutual benefit in a bid to push for constant development of exchanges and cooperation in various fields. 　

Li Jinjun said that the China-Europe political party forum is the product of the ever-growing and deepening inter-party relations between China and Europe, and this session represents a new step toward institutionalization of the forum. Political parties of both sides believe that political party relations constitute an important part of Chin-Europe relations, and with huge opportunities facing China-Europe relations, the two sides' political parties can exploit their advantages of wide representation and influence, and have a big role to play in leading public opinion, steering popular aspirations and promoting government decision-making. Political parties of the two sides are committed to making the forum a worthy annual event with China and Europe taking the host in turn. 　

The China-Europe High Level Political Parties Forum will become an important platform for the two sides to work together for better future, Li said. He added that this year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, who has established contacts and links with more than 600 political parties or political organizations in more than 160 countries. The CPC would like to use the platform of China-Europe High Level Political Party Forum to learn advanced experience of party management and state governance of European political parties so as to improve own building and better serve national development of China.